Reclining chair with adjustable back



1958 E. M. KNABUSCH ETAL 2,863,495

RECLINING CHAIR WITH ADJUSTABLE BACK I Filed March 1, 1955 s sheets-sheet 1 "/a FIVE/3 9, 1958 E. M. KNABUSCH EIAL 2,863,495

RECLINING CHAIR WITH ADJUSTABLE BACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1, 1955 Train .5043

Dec. 1958 E. M. KNABUSCH ETAL 2,863,495

RECLINING CHAIR WITH ADJUSTABLE BACK Filed March 1, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 atented Dec. 9, 1958- 2,863,495 RECLINING CHAIR WITH ADJUSTABLE BACK Edward M. Knabnsch, andE'dwin J."Shoemaker, Monroe, lVlich., assignors to La-Z-Boy Chair Company, Monroe, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 1, 1955, Serial No. 491,292 11 Claims. C1. 155 -116) This. invention relates to chairs and more particularly to chairs having adjustable backs.

It has long been. recognized that the degree of com fort achievable bya person in a sedentary position may be increased by providing support not only for his back but also for his shoulders, neck and head. The need for such additional support becomes greater the more the back of the chair is inclined towards the horizontal; in-chair types in which the back is inclined, or is capable of being. inclined, to a substantial degree, support for the he ad substantially essential to the sitters comfort.

The additional head support may be provided by increasing the height ofthe chair back, and this practice is followed, for example, in the reclining chairs disclosed in our copending application, Serial No. 342,336, filed Mhrch 16, 1953, now Patent 2,779,392 granted January 29,. 1957, or Serial No. 391,182, filed November 10, 1953, now Patent 2,779,391 granted January 29, 1957. However, a high-back chair may tend to be out of accord with certain decorating schemes, particularly with those in. recent favor which feature a low concentration of mass.

3, Chairs having head-supporting and reclining capabilitiesfor maximum comfort may be adapted to a configiiration. aesthetically suitable to a low-silhouette decor by providing an adjustable back which may be moved in. translation between an upper and a lower position. Such adjustment may be additional to a rotational or rotational-translational adjustment of the angle between the back and the seat.

Theobject of this invention is to improve the appearance of chairs and to make them more comfortable.

A feature of this invention is a means for permitting the back of thechair to be raised or lowered and to be locked in either position.

Another'feature of this invention is a means for preventing. a reclinable chair from being tilted until its back" member has been elevated.

The manner of accomplishment of the foregoing objectythe nature of the foregoing features, and other ob jects and features of the invention, may be perceived from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention when read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a. perspective view, taken from the right rear, of an upholstered chair embodying the principles of the invention, with a portion of the upholstery being cut away to disclose elements of the release mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a medial, vertical section of the chair shown in Fig. 1, with the chair being shown in its upright position with the back lowered, but with the position of the back when elevated being represented in phantom;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 2

except that the back of the chair has been raised to its uppermost position and the support mechanism actuatedto convert the chair to a position of reclination;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substan-' tially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

The inventive principles are exemplarily embodied in a reclinable chair having a back portion 10 so related toa seat portion 12 (Fig. 2) and to a base 14 by a supporting mechanism 16, that the chair may be shifted from a substantially upright position, as represented in Fig.

2 of the drawings, to a substantially reclined position,. as represented in Fig. 4 of the drawings, as a result of appropriate selective shifting of the weight of the sitter.. The inter-relating supporting mechanism 16 is or may be: of the general type disclosed in the above-identified co-- pending applications, although it will be noted that the:

means there employed for shifting the position of the: footrest relative to the seat is not employed in the chair disclosed herein, although it may be if desired.

The seat portion 12 including its forward crosspiece 18, is related to the side rails 20, constituent elements of the base 14, by a modified form of parallelogrammatic linkage comprising paired arms 22 and 24 and paired links 26 and 28. Each of the arms 24 is oriented in a substantially horizontal plane and is attachedto the individual side rails 26 by means such as wood or machine screws 36. Each of the arms 22 is substantially parallel to the arms 24, and is provided with a laterally extending flange 32 which is firmly attached to the underside of the seat 12 by means such as screws 34. Links 26 and 28 are pivotally related to the arms 22 and 24 by means of pivot pins 36, 38, 4t) and 42. Links 26 and 28 are roughly parallel with one another, the degree of departure from true parallelogrammatic action being determined by the desired motion of the seat 12.

The seat portion 12 is capable of being swung forwardly and upwardly by the supporting mechanism 16 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 4. The lower, Fig. 2, position of the seat 12 is established by means of a stop member 46 which is rigidly, angularly disposed relative to the arm 24 by being pinned and welded thereto. Stop member 46 is provided with a laterally extending lip 48 engageable in a notch on the rear edge of link 26. As the seat is moved forwardly and upwardly to swing the link 26 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivotal axis 38, a notch in the forward edge of the link 26 engages a stop pin 51) (Fig. 4) to define the uppermost position of the seat 12.

The tilting of the back from a substantially upright position (Fig. 2) to a reclined position (Fig. 4) is controlled by a compound linkage mechanism, at each side of the chair, comprising arm 54 and links 56, 53, 64), 62 and 64. Each of the arms 54, as will be described here-- inafter, is maintained at a fixed effective angle to the back portion 10. Ann 54, and hence the back portion 10, is related to the side rails 20 by means of. links 56, 60 and 621 Link 56 extends between pivot pin 66, corinected to arm 54, and pivot pin 68, connected to arm 24 and hence pivoted to the side rails 20. One end of link 69 is also connected to pivot pin 66 and the other end is connected to links 62 and 64 by means of pivot; pin 79. The other end of link 62 is connected to the: aforesaid pivot pin 40, which is fixed with respect to the side rails 20, and the other end of link 64 is connected. to pivot pin 42*, which is fixed with respect to the seat member 12.

The back portion 10 is further related to the seat per tion 12 by means of link 58, one end of which is joined to arm 54 by pivot pin 74 (which is provided with a motion limiting washer 75) and the other end of which is connected to the pivot pin 36 which is fixed with respect to the seat portion 12 as previously described. Assuming the back 10 is elevated (in a manner hereinafter to be described), the forces exerted as a result of the sitter leaning back adequately against the back portion 10 are such as to rotate and translate the chair back 10 into the position represented in Fig. 4 of the drawings, thereby to move the seat portion 12 to the position represented in Fig. 4. Conversely, by leaning forwardly in the chair, the back portion 10 and the seat portion 12 may be made to restore to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The back portion 10 comprises an inner side rail 78 and an outer side rail 80 (Figs. 3 and 6) at each side of the back, a top rail 82 (Figs. 2 and 4 to 6) and a bottom rail 84. A groove or mortise is cut longitudinally of each of the inner side rails 78 to accept a channelsection portion 88 of a pair of guide channels 90, which are screwed or otherwise affixed therein. As may best be seen in Fig. 3, each guide channel 90 is provided with a pair of opposing, folded flanges 92 embracing a guide bar 94. Each of the guide bars 94 can slide freely longitudinally within its individual guide channel 90 but any other relative motion therebetween is prevented.

As is most clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the lower end 96 of each of the guide bars 94 is curved so as to overlie the longitudinal center line of the arm 54 and is attached thereto by means of a screw 98. The left-hand end of bar 54 is notched to engage the neck of a headed pin 100 affixed to the channel bar 94. As a result of this construction, the

bars 94 and 54 are essentially integral and cannot pivot relative to one another. Therefore, the back 10 will be subjected to the same rotational or rotational-translational motion as the bar 54 as the chair is shifted between its substantially upright and substantially reclined positions.

As a result of the provision of the guide channels 90 and guide bars 94, the entire back 10 may be moved longitudinally between an upper and a lower position. The limits of such motion are defined primarily by a flange 102 (Fig. 6) extending laterally of each of the guide bars 94. The lowermost limit of motion of the back 10, as represented in solid lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, is defined by engagement of the guide bar flanges 102 with rubber shock pads 104 positioned in the space between the inner and outer side rails 78 and 8t) abutting the top rail 82 (Figs. and 6). The uppermost limit of motion of the back 10, as represented in phantom in Fig. 2 of the drawings and in solid lines in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, is defined by the flanges 102 striking the upper ends of the guide channels 90.

The chair back is retained in this uppermost position by means of a latching mechanism comprising a release bail 106 which is generally a U-shaped member having lateral offsets in each of its legs. Releasebail 106 extends transversely of the chair back and lies primarily in the area between the two inner side rails 78.

The laterally oflset portions of the legs of the release bail 106 extend through apertures in the inner side rails 78, and the terminal ends of the legs of the release bail 106 extend downwardly in the area between the inner and outer side rails 78 and 80, ateach side of the back, in abutment with or proximity to the side of the inner side rail 78, as may best be seen in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The oflset portions of the legs of the release bail 106 are rotatably supported upon the inner side rail 78 by means of an apertured plate 108 screwed or other- Wise affixed to each of the inner side rails 78. Release bail 106 is therefore rotatable about a horizontal axis defined by the aligned apertures in the two plates 108. The limits of this rotation are established by a pair of limit stops 110 and 112 extending laterally from one or both of the plates 108. A spring 114 engages the release bail 106 and the limit stop 110 to bias the release bail 106 into the position represented in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, that is, so that the release bail 106 is in abutment with the limit stop 112. In this position, the upper horizontal portion of the release bail 106 is positioned adjacent the rear surface of the back portion 10 so that it is closely proximate the upholstering 116 (Fig. 1) but does not constitute a marked protrusion thereunder. In this position of the release bail 106, the lower ends of the legs thereof are in position to engage the flanges 102 on the guide bars 94 so as to prevent the chair back 10 from restoring to its lower position under the forces of gravity.

To return the chair to its lower position, the upper horizontal portion of the release bail 106 is moved forwardly of the chair so as to rotate the entire release bail 106 about an axis through the apertures in the plates 108. The upholstery material 116 (Fig. l) is sufliciently flexible to permit this manipulation of the release bail 106. As a result of this rotation, the lower ends of the legs of the release bail 106 are moved out of engagement with the flanges 102 on the guide bars 94 so that the back 10 may then be lowered to a position in which those flanges 102 strike the rubber shock pads 104.

To facilitate raising the back 10, its weight is partly counterbalanced by means of a tension spring or springs 116 (Fig. 6) connected to one or both of the flanges 102 and anchored to the outer side rail 80 so as to exert a force tending to move the outer side rails 80, and hence the entire back 10, upwardly relative to the guide bars 94 and hence relative to the remaining elements of the chair.

The chair can be arranged so that the first described tilting action and the second described back-elevating action may occur independently, alternatively, andconcurrently. However, it is preferable that means be provided for preventing the chair from being tilted toits reclined position unless the back has first been moved to its uppermost position to provide the requisite head, neck and shoulder support. This means may comprise a a wood spacer 120 positioned between one or both of the pairs of inner and outer side rails 78 and 80 and screwed, glued or otherwise aflixed thereto. The lower end of the wood spacer 120 is longitudinally slotted, the slot terminating at an edge 122, as may best be seen in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. The link 56 engages this slot in spacer 120. If the chair back is in' its lower position, as represented in solid lines in Fig. 2, tilting of the chair towards its reclining position is prevented by edge 122 striking the link 56. If, however, the chair back 10 is elevated to its uppermost position, the wood spacer 120 is moved therewith to position the edge 122 thereof where it will not strike the link 56 so that the chair may then be moved to its inclined position. It will be noted that in this inclined position, as represented in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the edge 122 is considerably spaced from the link 56.

Means may also be provided for preventing the back to be lowered when the chair is in its reclined position. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, this means comprises a stop member 126 (Figs. 3 and 4) generally triangular in shape, mounted on the upper, forward edge' of one or both of the outer side rails 80. If the chair back 10 is in its extended position, stop member 126 does not affect movement of the chair from its reclined to its upright position. 7

However, if the latching member 106 is released, accidently or intentionally, while the chair is in its reclined (Fig. 4) position, the stop member 126 will strike upright 128 which is integrally attached to the base portion 14. This abutment, which is represented in phantom in Fig. 4

of the drawings, effectively prevents return of the back portion to its lowered position unless the chair is first returned to its upright attitude.

While it will be apparent that the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to f ul fill the object above stated, it will be appreciated that the iii vention is susceptible to, modification; variation aiid change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed isi w 1. In a chair, a seat, a back, a pair of guide channels connecte'd'to said back, a pair of guidebars slidably engaging said guide channels, means including said channels and bars for guiding translational motion of said back relative to said seat, two position latch means engageable in one position with a portion of each of said guide bars for latching said back in a preselected position, said latch means being movable to a second position to release said back, spring means tending to force said latch means to said one position, and means comprising said guide bars for preventing said spring means from moving said latching means into latching engagement with said portion of said guide bars except when said back has been translated to a preselected position with respect to said seat.

2. In a chair, a seat, a back, a pair of guide channels connected to said back, a pair of guide bars slidably engaging said guide channels, means including said channels and bars for guiding translational motion of said back relative to said seat, means on said guide bars engageable with a portion of said guide channels for defining a first limit position of translational motion of said back and engageable with a portion of said back separate from said guide channels for defining a second limit position of translational motion of said back, and spring means tending to urge said back toward one of said limit positions.

3. In a chair, a seat, a back, a pair of guide channels connected to said back, a pair of guide bars slidably en gaging said guide channels, means including said channels and bars for guiding translational motion of said back relative to said seat, a stop flange on at least one of said guide bars engageable with a portion of said guide channels for defining a first limit position of translational motion of said back and engageable with a portion of said back for defining a second limit position of translational motion of said back, and latch means engageable with said stop flange for selectively locking said back in one of said limit positions.

4. In a chair, a seat, a back, a pair of guide channels connected to said back, a pair of guide bars slidably engaging said guide channels, means including said channels and bars for guiding translational motion of said back relative to said seat, a flange on one of said guide bars, and a latching mechanism extending transversely of and pivotally mounted on said back and having a portion selectively engageable with said flange.

5. In a chair, a seat, a back, a pair of guide channels connected to said back, a pair of guide bars slidably engaging said guide channels, means including said channels and bars for guiding translational motion of said back relative to said seat, a flange on one of said guide bars, a latching mechanism extending transversely of and pivotally mounted on said back and having a portion selectively engageable with said flange, a pair of stop members fixed to said back for limiting rotational motion of said latching mechanism, and spring means tending to force said latching mechanism into engagement with one of said stop members.

6. In -a chair, a base, a rotatable and translatable back, a movable seat, means supporting said back for primarily translational motion relative to said base between two limit positions independently of concurrent movement in rotation, means supporting said back for rotational motion relative to said base between two limit positions independently of concurrent movement in translation, means for preventing rotational motion of said back to 6 one of said limit positionswhen said back is in one of its limit positions of translational motion, andmeans intercoupling said back and seat for causing rotational move ment of said back from a generally upright position to a reclining position to accompany forward movement olf said seat relative to said base and for causing rotational movement ofsaid back from the reclining position to the generally upright position to accompany rearward mdve= merit of said seat relative to said base; U

-7. Ida chair,'a base, a rotatable and translatable back, a movable seat, means supporting said back for primarily translational motion relative to said base between two lim it positions independently of concurrent movement in rotation, means supporting said back for rotational motion relative to said base between two limit positions in dependently of concurrent movement in translation and means for preventing translational motion of said back to one of said limit positions when said back is in one of its limit positions of rotational motion, and means intercoupling said back and seat for causing rotational movement of said back from a generally upright position to a reclining position to accompany forward movement of said seat relative to said base and for causing rotational movement of said back from the rec-lining position to the generally upright position to accompany rearward movement of said seat relative to said base.

8. In a chair, a base, a back, means supporting said back for translational motion relative to said base between two limit positions, means supporting said back for rotational motion relative to said base between two limit positions, means for preventing rotational motion of said back to one of said limit positions when said back is in one of its limit positions of translational motion, and means for preventing translational motion of said back to one of said limit positions when said back is in one of its limit positions of rotational motion.

9. In a chair, a base, a back, means supporting said back for translational motion relative to said base between two limit positions, means including a link pivotally mounted on said base for supporting said back for rotational motion relative to said base between two limit positions, and means including a stop member afi'ixed to said back and engageable with said link when said back is in one of its limit positions of translational motion for preventing rotational motion of said back to one of said limit positions when said back is in one of its limit positions of translational motion.

10. A reclining type chair tiltable between reclining and upright positions and having a back which can be extended for reclining comfort and lowered for improved upright appearance comprising a base, a seat, a back, support means for supporting said seat for movement relative to said base between first and second positions and for supporting said back for movement relative to said base between a generally upright position and a reclining position, means including said support means for causing movement of said back between said upright position and said reclining position to accompany movement of said seat between said first and second positions, and support means for supporting said back for movement generally upwardly and downwardly relative to said base between an extended position and a lowered position independently of concurrent movement of said back between said upright and reclining positions and independently of concurrent movement of said seat between said first and secand for supporting said back for movement relative to said base between a generally upright position and a reclining position, means including said support means for causing movement of said back between said upright p'o'sition'and said reclining position to accompany move- References Cited in the file of this patent menr of said seat between said first and second positions, support means for supporting said back for move- UNITED STATES PATENTS ment generally upwardly and downwardly relative to said 224,489 7 Starr Feb. 10, 1880 I base between an extended position and a lowered position 5 1,256,856 WittWer Feb. 19, 1918 independently of concurrent movement of said back 1,586,355 De Franco May 25, 1926 between said upright and reclining positions and in- 2,138,269 Drake Nov. 29, 1938 dependently of concurrent movement of said seat between said first and second positions, and spring means 7 FOREIGN PATENTS exerting forces tending to move said back towards said 10 141,260 1 Switzerland July 31, 1930 extended position. 364,980 Great Britain Jan. 14, 1932 

